Also by Lisa McMann

The Unwanteds
Island of Silence
Island of Fire
Island of Legends

FOR OLDER READERS:

The Wake Trilogy
Wake
Fade
Gone

The Visions Series

Crash
Bang
Gasp

Cryers Cross
Dead to You

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Prologue: Under
the Sea

hat did he look like? growled the old pirate

captain with hooks for hands. He slammed
one of the hooks on the table in front of the
slave, and it made a garish clang. Who is

responsible?

Daxel said nothing. He couldnt speak. None of the slaves

that the pirates had bought from their friend Queen Eagala

But Daxel could write, and the pirates knew it. Still, he
stared at the map and the blank pieces of paper in front of him
and shook his head.

l i sa m cm a n n

could speak.

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The captain struck Daxel with one of his hook hands, leaving a ghastly white, jagged cut in the slaves forehead. Daxel
cringed and recoiled. A second or two later, the gash turned
red and blood began to drip from it, down his cheek and onto
his tattered shirt.
Another pirate, whod been standing at the glass wall
staring out at the broken, now-empty aquarium, turned
swiftly and picked up the map. He shook it in the slaves face
and slapped it down on the table. Where did they come
from? An island? Or the outside?
Daxel closed his eyes. He could feel his forehead pulsing,
and resisted the urge to wipe away the bloodnot that he
could reach his face, since his wrists were chained to the
arms of the chair. There was only enough slack to reach
the pen and paper on the table in front of him. The pirates
can hurt me all they want, he vowed. He would never betray
his friend Copper.
Out of nowhere came a blunt slam above his ear. Daxel
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gripped the arms of the chair and wished for enough slack in
the chains to strangle all the pirates.
He tried to block out their growly noises, and fielded blows

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for a very long time, until he was faint with pain and loss of
blood. But he wouldnt give the pirates what they wanted.
It was only when the hook-handed captain bent down near
Daxels face, close enough for the slave to smell his rancid
breath and hear his wicked, whispered threat, that Daxels
orange eyes opened and pooled with fear.
The captain straightened and barked out an order: Bring
the others in here!
Daxels breathing grew shallow as all but the captain and
one other pirate stormed out of the room. He watched them go,
his hands shaking, chains rattling. Agonizing minutes passed
until the pirates returned, each gripping two Warbler slaves
by the arms. The pirates lined up the silent workers shoulder
to shoulder in front of Daxel, and they held daggers to their
hearts and cutlasses to their necks. The faces of the youngest
slaves showed the most fear as they stared with pleading eyes
at the man who held their fate in his hands.

captain returned to his side and tapped the map and the papers
in front of him. This is your last chance to answer our questions, he said. Or do you want us to hurt your friends?

l i sa m cm a n n

Determination drained from Daxels fighting spirit. The

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Some of the Warblerans stood stoically, but others couldnt

mask their terror.
Daxel struggled to breathe. Sweat mingled with the blood
on his forehead. Im so sorry, he said in his mind, like a prayer.
He was left with no choice.
The rattle of the chain when he reached for the pen was
startling in the silent room. Stalling for time, even though he
knew no one could or would save him and the other slaves,
he studied the map. Seven small islands in a slightly inverted
V-shape, and a large hunk of land to the west of them.
The captain poked his hook into the slaves back. You have
five seconds before one of them becomes food for the eels, he
said. He pointed to the youngest slave, whose eyes widened in
terror.
Daxels heart pounded and his head swam. When he leaned
forward, a drop of blood splattered on the table. He could
hardly hear the captains countdown for the rushing sound in
his ears. There was a shuffle of feet across the room as a pirate
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prepared to take the first victim.

Daxel gripped the pen in his sweaty hand, touched it to
the map, and slowly drew a circle around the middle island,

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which the strangers who rescued Copper had spoken about.

The captain spoke softly in the slaves ear. There, he
crooned. That wasnt so hard, now was it?
Daxel refused to react.
The captain straightened up. He strolled to the glass wall
and gazed out. Now all we need in order to let your friends go
back to work is a little description of the leader responsible for
this disaster. He pointed a hook at the empty aquarium, and
his face took on a horrible, pained expression. Years and years
of searching and collecting . . . and so. Much. Money, he said,
tapping the glass with each word. All of it, gone. He shook
his head. We might not be able to afford to feed the slaves
anymore. If they live, that is.
Daxel stared at the blank paper.
The captain sighed loudly. Come on now, Daxel. Do we
really have to go through the countdown again? He moved
lithely to the slaves side once more. Im so impatient. Its not

The slave sucked in a breath. Sweat and blood stung his

eyes. He gripped the pen and began to draw. A jawline. A
swath of hair. A face.

l i sa m cm a n n

likely Ill give you any warning this time.

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Thats more like it, said the captain, leaning over the
slave, watching intently as features began to emerge. You have
such talent, he said in mock praise.
Daxel drew and drew, knowing his life, and the lives of the
slaves before him, depended on it. Forgive me, friend.
When he finished, he set the pen down, his gaze never
straying from the drawing. Two fresh, innocent eyes bore into
his soul.
The captain deftly slid the paper between his hooks and
studied it. And then he began to chuckle. Softly at first, and
then the chuckle rolled and crescendoed into a deep, hearty,
sinister belt of laughter. He showed the drawing to his pirate
companions and they began to laugh too.
When the captain could breathe, he hooked a handkerchief
from his breast pocket and wiped his face with it. As he put
it away, he declared, This will most certainly be the easiest
attack in our thousand-year history, comrades. For the dreaded
man we seek? Hes nothing but a boy!
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In Tatters

hen Alex opened his eyes, he saw a blurry

image of Fox standing before him on the deck
of the Unwanteds pirate ship. Kitten stood
on Foxs head, mewing at the top of her voice.

The sound grew distant and then faded altogether, and the
young mages lids drooped once more.
Fox stepped on Alexs thigh and licked his face, trying to get

one tiny paw, still mewing.

Alex groaned. He was soaking wet and his entire body
ached. His arms were tangled in rope, and he couldnt pull free.

l i sa m cm a n n

the boys eyes to stay open. Kitten pointed over the bow with

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And Foxs driftwood tongue was harsh on his skin. He lifted

his head to move away from it and squinted in the sunlight.
The world swam before his eyes.
Mewmewmew! cried the tiny porcelain kitten. Alex didnt
have a clue what she was saying.
Fox began loosening the knots that held Alex to the ships
bow. He paused to translate, Kitten is wondering if you are
okay. She considers you to be one of her very, very special
friends, and
Im okay, Alex interrupted. He coughed. Salt water
burned his throat and nose. Fox worked at the knots with his
teeth, and soon one of Alexs arms was free. Fox moved to the
next, and when that one came loose, Alex plunged forward and
put his hands out to catch himself.
Thanks, Fox. Youre a good, um, cat, he said, which
pleased Fox immensely. Alexs arms wobbled. He pushed himself up and locked his elbows, then turned gingerly to a sitting
position. He coughed again and winced. And speaking of cats,
l i sa m cm a n n

please tell me the big one is around here somewhere.

Simber flew over from a short distance away when he heard
Alexs voice. The enormous stone cheetah glanced out over

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the water and narrowed his eyes. I am. But werrre missing
someone else.
Alex struggled to his feet, alarmed. Whos missing?
Octavia.
Alexs breath caught. He scanned the waves. At least she
can swim.
Yes. But Im not surrre wherrre we lost herrr. If it was
back at the beginning . . . Simber trailed off.
Alex wasnt at all sure how far they had traveled since their
ship began the insane journey down a thunderous waterfall.
When theyd reached the bottom, theyd gone screaming
around a forward turn so that they were sailing upside down,
and then another forward turn, climbing straight up a different
waterfall, and around one final forward turn, bringing them
upright again, depositing them herewherever here was. It
was the most frightening ride Alex had ever been on, and he
wasnt sure how hed survived it.

octogator being battered about in the surf. Especially since

she hadnt fully recovered from her ordeal with the eel in the
aquarium under the volcanic pirate island. How will we find

l i sa m cm a n n

Oh no, he said softly, thinking about the highly regarded

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her? He rose on shaky legs and rubbed the rope burns on his
wrists.
Spike is out therrre calling forrr herrr. Hopefully shell
shoot up the waterrrfall like the ship did. Simber was silent
as his gaze swept the surface of the water, looking for the blue
whales sparkly horn, but he didnt see it. The sea grew calm,
almost glassy, and the ship inexplicably moved away from the
up-waterfall from whence theyd come, into the open water.
Ah, wait a moment, the giant stone cheetah said. His regal
neck stretched upward, and his eyes narrowed. He flew higher
and sampled the air with a delicate sniff. After a moment, he
nodded. Yes. Herrre comes Spike now with Octavia. Shes the
last one. The frown on his face softened, and he let out a sigh
of relief, which almost never happened unless things had been
very, very serious.
Alex, his brain still fuzzy, wondered how long hed been
unconscious, and what else hed missed. He strained to see
the two creatures, but they were too far away for his eyes to
l i sa m cm a n n

detect. Instead he looked around as the fog in his head began

to clear. The ship was in tatters. Ropes and nets still held various humans, creatures, and statues who had tied themselves

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down to keep from flying about. And some members of their

party were definitely broken. Captain Ahabs hand held on to
the ships wheel, but the rest of him was nowhere to be seen.
Captain? Alex called out.
Aye, came the gargly reply from the deck behind the
ships wheel, where the captain lay in six or seven pieces. I
live. My wretched existence shall waste away another day.
He sounds about normal, Alex muttered, and mentally
checked Captain Ahabs well-being off his list of concerns. He
caught Samheeds eye. You okay?
Samheed was easing his way to his feet nearby as Fox
chomped at the ropes around his wrists. Ugh. Major headache. Once freed, he staggered and grabbed the railing for
support. Wheres Lani?
Alex looked up at Simber for the answer. And Sky? His
pulse raced when he remembered that sometime during the horrible ride hed been holding on to her. The fear cleared his head.

batterrred but alive thanks to Spike. The cheetah swooped

down to the water to pick up Ms. Octavia from Spikes broad
back.

l i sa m cm a n n

Theyrrre both fine. Helping the injurrred. Everrryone is

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Mewmewmew! cried Kitten.

Fox began to interpret, but then glanced at Simber and
closed his mouth.
Alex shook his head. I dont know how any of us lived
through that, whatever it was. He stepped carefully to the
railing and used it to steady himself. The water sparkled with
the sun hanging low over it, making a pale yellow path in front
of them. Are you sure youre okay, Sam?
Samheed nodded and limped over. I think so.
Were still heading west, Alex mused. Unless its morning now. He narrowed his eyes and wished for a better sense
of direction. Where are we? How do we get home? Do we
have to go through that thing again to get back?
I doubt well have to go through it again, Samheed said.
Im pretty sure that was a scroll feature. Were on the other
end now. He rubbed the back of his throbbing head. His
fingers came away sticky with blood. Ick.
Kitten hopped and mewed again.
l i sa m cm a n n

Alex ignored her, completely puzzled by Samheeds words.

What do you mean, scroll feature? Other end of what?
Samheed wiped his fingers on his shirt. I mean its like the

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scroll feature Mr. Today turned on in Artim whenever new

Unwanteds arrived to keep them from getting lost or eaten in
the jungle. I rode on it our first day, remember?
Alex frowned. He remembered Samheed getting mad and
stomping off, away from the group, but hed never asked what
had happened to him. I didnt care much for you back then,
you know.
Likewise, Samheed said with a smirk. I dont think I
actually told you guys what happened. But it was sort of like
what we just went through, only on a much smaller scale.
You mean you scrolled on a waterfall and didnt tell anybody about it? Are you joking?
Not a waterfallI wasnt on water in Artim, I was on
land. It was like . . . like I got sucked down a hill that rotated,
and my feet were stuck to it, so even when I was upside down,
I didnt fall anywhere. He pursed his lips. Picture Kitten
with her feet glued to the ships wheel. If we turned it, shed

thatI just went around, and it brought me to the other side

of Artim.
So . . . youre saying that we went around the world? And

l i sa m cm a n n

stay stuck to the wheel all the way around. Its kind of like

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now were . . . where exactly? Alex looked left and right at the
vast, open sea.
Samheed shrugged. My guess is that since we began scrolling when we were as far west as we could be, beyond the Island
of Legends, were now as far away from the Island of Legends
as we possibly can be. Were . . . were . . . east.
MEW. MEW. MEW.
Everyone turned to look at Kitten, whose tiny face was
furious. She pointed with her porcelain toes toward the bow
of the ship.
She says Fox said.
She says, Simber interrupted, that Ms. Mornings seek
spell came frrrom the west. Arrrtim is that way.

l i sa m cm a n n

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East of the Sun

lex cringed. The seek spell from Claire Morning

it had come just as the ship plunged over the waterfall. Hed forgotten all about it. It could mean only
one thing: Something was wrong in Artim.

And here they were, in a broken-down ship with a broken-

down captain somewhere far from home, in a part of the sea

theyd never traversed before. No one knew exactly how far

islands on this side of Quill and Artim, just like there were
three on the other side. If these islands were spaced out
similarly to the ones on the west side of Quill, it could take

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away they were. All they knew was that there were three

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many days for the battered ship to limp home.

As Alex contemplated, Lanis head appeared in the stairwell. Alex, she said, her face full of concern. Glad youre
finally awake. Got a big problem. Theres a hole in the ship.
Were taking on water fast. Sky suggested we try a glass spell to
cover the hole. She paused for breath. I think it might work,
but I dont know how to cast that one.
Alex looked at Sam. Can you do it?
Samheed nodded. Ill go. You figure out what to do from here.
A moment later, Carina Holiday approached. Alex, she
said urgently. Her pixie hair was wild, sticking up in all directions. Seans not doing very well.
Alexs face lit up with concern. Where is he?
Still tied to the ropes. Follow me.
Alex hurried after Carina. When they reached Sean, whose
leg had been badly broken by a giant eel on the living-crab island
called Karkinos, they knelt at his side. Lanis younger brother,
Henry Haluki, was there already, measuring a small amount of
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liquid from a vial and pouring it carefully into Seans mouth. Seans
face twisted in pain. Sweat dotted his upper lip and forehead.
What happened? Alex said.

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Bumpy ride, Sean said between short gasps of pain.

Carina reached for Seans hand, and he gripped it tightly.
Its his leg, obviously, she said. Hes having almost as much
pain now as when he broke it.
Alex pressed his lips together. What do we do? he asked
Henry.
Henry held the bottle of medicine to the light, frowned,
and put it into his pocket. He moved to examine the makeshift
splint the Unwanteds had made for Seans leg. Every move
this ship makes, Henry said with grave authority, feels like a
knife stabbing his leg. We have to set it again.
No, Sean whispered. His eyelids fluttered, but the medi
cine was beginning to work. Hurts . . . so much . . . He
closed his eyes.
Henry looked at Alex. And then we have to get him home.
Alex nodded. As soon as we can figure out how to do that,
well be on our way.

Alex frowned. Look, I know hes in pain, but theres no

way to turn this ship into a speedboat. We have a leak, Captain
Ahab is in pieces, and Ms. Octavia is

l i sa m cm a n n

No, Carina said. He needs to go right away.

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Alex, Henry interrupted. You dont understand. Were

almost out of medicine.
Alex sat back. What? How could that be? I thought you
brought a lot.
We had plenty for a trip to rescue Skys mother, Henry
said, sounding a little defensive. But then we kept going, and
we used two whole bottles on Lhasa before Kitten brought her
back to life. And Seans been taking it regularly for days. Even
after all of that, we would have been fine, except we lost the
medical bag when we went over the waterfall. So all I have
left is what was in my pocket. Henry, who was quite young
for having such excellent healing abilities, blinked hard, as if
he were trying not to cry. I should have hung on to the bag
better.
Carina patted his shoulder. You did just fine.
Yes, and you saved one bottle, which Sean desperately
needed, Alex reassured him. I understandIm not blaming
you for anything. I was just surprised. He sucked in a breath
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and blew it out, thinking hard about how to handle things.

How long do we have?
Ive got a few drops left in this bottle, said Henry. Not

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enough for a full dose when this wears off, but itll help him get
through the rest of today.
Oh boy, Alex muttered. He doubted there was a way they
could get home in several days, much less by nightfall.
And we need to set his leg now, while he wont feel it as
much.
Alex blew out a heavy, frustrated breath. Setting Seans leg
had been bad enough the first time. He looked around and saw
a slightly bedraggled Ms. Octavia coming toward them, almost
appearing to float through the air on her many tentacles. Alex
waved her over.
Henry filled her in on the plan and explained how they were
going to do it. Ms. Octavia wound two tentacles around Seans
leg and Alex held Seans upper body steady. At Henrys command, Ms. Octavia pulled while Henry and Carina set the leg.
Sean cried out in his sleep. Once the leg was set, Alex rushed
over to help Carina replace the splint and secure it.

away to assess their situation, beckoning Ms. Octavia to join

him. I need you to fix Captain Ahab as soon as possible, he
said. Were out of medicine. We need to get Sean home.

l i sa m cm a n n

When Henry and Carina no longer needed him, Alex slipped

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Do we know where we are? she asked. How far is home?

Alex shook his head. I dont know for sure. We think
were at the easternmost end of the world. But all we know for
sure is the direction that Ms. Mornings seek spell came from.
So the seek spell doesnt require us to go back the way we
came, around the world? asked Ms. Octavia.
Thankfully, no, Alex replied. It must have rerouted once
we made it through the waterfalls. It was gone when I woke up,
but Kitten saw it before it faded away.
Well thats good, but were still a long way from Artim,
and the ship is barely moving. What will we do with Sean in
the meantime? Hell need something for the pain.
Alex looked up at the top of the battered mast, where six
squirrelicorns rested. I was thinking maybe the squirrelicorns
could . . . you know, take him. Back home.
The two looked at each otheronce teacher and student,
now peers solving a dilemma. After a moment Ms. Octavia
shook her alligator head. The squirrelicorns arent like
l i sa m cm a n n

Simberthey cant fly indefinitely. We dont know whats

out there or if theres any place for them to land if they need
to rest.

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Oh, Alex said, his thoughts whirling. Right. Of course

youre right. He pushed back a lock of tangled hair that had
fallen over his eyes and sighed, defeated. Then I guess theres
no other choice, he said, turning to gaze at Artims grand
protector who circled the ship above. But it worries me. I just
wish it wouldnt leave us so vulnerable.
You mean Simber? Ms. Octavia said, her voice grave.
Losing Simber was the last thing Alex wanted to do. He had
no idea what dangers awaited them. But it was the only way to
save Sean. He nodded slowly, even as his gut twisted. Well

l i sa m cm a n n

have to make our way home without him.

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